About Me

This blog is my blissful journal of happiness. It’s about everything I adore and people I love. Thanks for stopping by. If you would like to write me, please feel free to email me: diana.mieczan@hotmail.comHave a jolly good day!

Oh boy, what a year it has been! I can not believe that it's over, can you? Loves,
thank you so much for reading exPress-o daily, all your sweet, hilarious and heart-warming
comments and emails that make my days so full of love. Thank you for
inspiring me each day, I couldn’t ask for more amazing readers. It's such a pleasure getting up each
morning to share my little thoughts with you. Although we never met in person, I feel like I know you. Here is to an amazing and jolly good
2013 around the exPress-o dinning table! Let's do this, shall we? xo

My darlings, hope you had a jolly good Christmas. Are
your bellies still full of all the scrumptious festive treats? Well, if you
fancy trying something different, I just have the thing for you – homemade
grape bread! A few days before Christmas Balazs and I went for a little party
to a friend who comes up with the coolest dishes and he didn’t disappoint this
time either. He treated his guests to warm grape bread with 3 different toppings
to choose from and hot wine on the side. It was so good that a few days later I
made one myself. It’s one of those lazy evening on a sofa type of meals that
will make you feel warm inside.

Here is the full recipe. Fancy a slice?

Grape Bread

(Adapted from
Margot Henderson – makes 12 servings)Ingredients:

* 50 grams fresh
yeast

* 1 kg. plain flour

* 220 grams brown
sugar

* 70 ml. olive oil

* 1.5 kg grapes
(the juicer the better)

* 100 grams clear
honey

Crumble the yeast
into a bowl and whisk in 450 ml warm water. Leave it in a warm place for 15
mins. or until it begins to froth. Mix the flour, the pinch of salt and 80 grams
of brown sugar together in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Slowly
pour in the mixture and mix well. Turn on to a floured surface and knead for
10-15 minutes or until the dough feels elastic and bounces back when prodded. Oil
the bowl with some of the olive oil and put in the dough. Cover with clingfilm
and leave in a warm place for about 30 mins. or until it has doubled in size.

Next, halve the
grapes, de-seed them (if seeded) and give them a rough squeeze. Put
them into a bowl and set aside. Once the dough is done, preheat the oven to 180°C
or 360°F. Halve and roll one piece out flat to about 1 cm thickness. Next,
place the piece in a large oiled baking tray. Add the rest of the sugar and the
lemon juice to the bowl with the grapes and stir in two tablespoons of olive oil. Sprinkle
half of the mixture over the first rolled out dough, then roll out the other
piece of the dough and place on top. Next cover with the rest of the grape
mixture and drizzle with the reminding olive oil. Bake in preheated oven for 40-50 minutes. You
can serve the grape bread with hot honey, blueberry sauce and pudding or any
other toppings you fancy. Ta dah!

My loves, how are you spending Christmas this year? Are you
staying home or maybe you’re already on your way to the airport to enjoy the
festivities with family? Balazs and I are spending the next few days with
friends and we are on our way right about now. I am so looking forward to
morning giggles with my best friend over Christmas (aka with Baileys) coffee, evenings
of drinking wine and playing board games, spontaneous naps (remember those?) and
taking long crisp walks with the star-lit sky above. Le sigh, the simple things
in life :)
Darlings, Balazs and I’d love to wish you all a jolly good
Christmas, full of tummy-loving food and tons of smooches
under the mistletoe. Let the next week or so be merry, festive, and full of
love and warmth. Be safe and happy!

I’ll surely pop in next week with a few fun posts, so make
sure to pop back to check those out, but in the meantime feel free to browse through exPress-o. Maybe you’ll discover a post or two that you missed
previously.

And if you are looking for a handful of last minute Christmas
tips. Here are a few:

If you are still undecided on what type of drink to serve
during your Christmas dinner, here is something that might tickle your fancy – Balazs'
take on hot mulled wine! I asked him to share the recipe today as every single
time he makes it for our guests, they love it and they always ask for refills.

Well, there are two tricks to it being super delish: first
one is chilly powder. I know, I was surprised too, but he says that the chilly enhances
the flavour. Another thing to keep in mind is not to boil the wine (and only
warm it up) as it looses the taste if boiled.

So here is the full how to if you’re in the mood for some
festive wine goodness next week:

Mulled Hot Wine
(with a twist)

(makes 2 huge
mugs)

Ingredients:

* 4-5 whole allspice pieces

* 1 pinch of ground cardamom

* 4-5 pieces of cloves

* ½ tsp of ground cinnamon

* 1 tsp of cinnamon pieces

* 1 pinch of chilly powder

* 1 cup of water

* 1 cup of freshly squeezed orange juice (7 fresh oranges)

* 2 cups of red wine

* 6 tablespoons of brown sugar

* 2 tablespoons of honey

In a small saucepan combine the spices, the sugar, the honey
and the water. Heat it up and boil it for about 15 minutes on low fire while stirring
occasionally. Next, add the orange juice, the wine and only heat it up but do
not let it boil. As soon as it's hot, turn the heat
off. Pour it through a sieve while distributing into mugs. Serve with a slice of an orange or an apple. Ta dah!

Loves, what's your favourite Christmas time drink? How do you like your hot wine? xo

When was the last time you wore wellies and a dress together?
I always wondered if this mix would look sassy enough and ever since I spotted Maritsa's outfit, I am totally convinced that it is. I love the
foxy little lace dress all edgy and fun paired up with the leather jacket. And
the berry colour lipstick with messy hair and cozy hat adds a swoonworthy
factor to the whole look, don't you think? Doesn't she look oh-so sweet? Do you
own a pair of wellies? xo

Today’s giveaway is from Feral Watches, a beautiful shop full of sassy and stylish watches. They are inspired by salty hair, sun kissed faces and free spirited souls :) Feral hopes that by wearing one of their feminine timepieces you'll feel beautiful and will always be on time no matter where you're going.

Today, Feralis offering one lucky person a chance to win a watch. You can choose the one you fancy the most. Isn't that cool? My favourite is the 'Wanderlust' watch but this one would be perfect for my best friend as a sassy Christmas gift!

For a chance to win you should be a follower of exPress-o, please visit the Feral Watches shop and tell us which watch is your favourite.As always the giveaway is open worldwide. The winner will be chosen at random tomorrow so you can still receive the watch in time for Christmas. Good luck! xo

Loves, have you ever been to Poland? How about the Polish
mountains? Well, my morning got all dreamy after I stumbled upon those moody
photographs of Rudawy Janowickie – a part of a regional mountain range. The
photographer took those shots while standing on the top of Sokolica. Oh boy,
just imagine spending a day hiking between the magical fog, having a winter
picnic with Oscypek (a smoked sheep milk cheese) and freshly baked bread while
spending the afternoon all bundled up, getting lost in that view. Can you
feel the crisp air pinching your cheeks already? I do! xo

Do you have an afternoon or two during Christmas when you
just chill and watch movies? Well, one of the things I look forward to beside
festive celebrations, eating yummy food, getting all dressed up and catching up
with family and friends, is one day when Balazs and I can just relax in comfy jammies
and watch a couple of movies that are not necessarily full on Christmas-y but in
our home they are Christmas-approved:) So if you fancy a break from the festive
classics here are 10 films that we love watching over and over again during the
jolly season.

1. Only You, 1994 - it has romance written all over it, especially since Robert Downey Jr. plays in it. It's all about destiny, faith and believing that true soul-mates will ultimately always find each other. What do you think? Do you belive that there is one person for everyone? Or not?

2. Hitch, 2005 - the witty Will Smith plays the "love doctor" who helps other men find love - and in the end he even helps himself. Oh boy, they really need help:) Check out the dancing - giggle!

7.Groundhog Day, 1993 - a movie you can watch over and over and over again (get it? :) )...Bill Murray is funny as always in this comedy where you find out how many different ways can you spend that same one day.

Speaking of all things jolly, how about 15 last minute
unmissable bits and bobs for the dapper husband who is secretly super romantic,
the English rose mom, the busy, sassy or chocolate adoring friend or even the
whale loving dad. So if you are still not sure on a few gifts, I hope those
little gems will do the trick.

My darlings, fancy something scrumptious to ease up the Christmas
rush? Well, if you are like me - a Nutella-nut, here is something that might
tickle your fancy – homemade nutella buns. What do you think? I made them twice
in the last week or so. Once for a dinner party in our place and then over the weekend so Balazs and I can have them for breakfast with hot steamy
coffee. I think it goes without saying that I am smitten with this recipe, so if
you fancy a little festive pause this week – go on and bake a tray-full to
share, enjoy and snack on :)

To make the dough, pour 1/2 cup (4oz|125ml) warm water into a small bowl. Add
the yeast + 1 tbsp sugar and stir to dissolve. Let stand until frothy, 5-10
minutes. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat the milk until it bubbles. Remove
from the heat and stir in 1/4 cup sugar, 4 tbsp butter, salt, and set aside
until cool.

In a large bowl,
stir together the yeast mixture, milk mixture, eggs, vanilla and half the flour
mixture until the ingredients start to combine. Stir in the remaining flour, a
little at a time. Turn the dough out onto a well-floured work surface and knead,
dusting with more flour as needed or until it’s elastic, smooth and not sticky –
about 5 minutes. Place the dough in an oiled bowl and turn to coat. Cover with
plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place until the dough doubles in size
(approximately 40 minutes).

Pre-heat the oven
to 375F|190C. Melt the 5 tbsp of butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Whisk in the brown sugar until smooth. Pour 1/3 of the brown sugar mixture into
a greased 9x13in (23x33cm) pan/baking dish. Scatter the nuts on top.

On a well-floured
work surface roll out the dough to a rectangle - about 15x20in (38x50cm). Spread
the Nutella over the dough in a thin layer, leaving a 1/2 inch (12mm) border
uncovered on one side. Next spread the remaining butter-brown sugar
mixture on top and finish it off with a bit of cinnamon. Brush the border
with the beaten egg. Starting with the covered side, roll the dough gently
into a log (or cylinder), pressing to seal the seam with the egg. Cut crosswise
into 14-16 rounds and place in baking dish on top of the pecans. Bake until
golden brown (20-25minutes). Let it cool slightly, spread the brown-sugar
mixture left in the dish onto the rolls and serve. Ta dah!

Today’s giveaway is from Rabbit Foot Fern, a San Francisco based stationery shop run by an awesome graphic designer and stationery creator, Molly Covert. Her shop has tons of adorable cards full of sass and class.

Today, Molly is offering one lucky person a chance to win a set of Holiday cards. You can choose the one you fancy the most. Isn't that fantastic? For me, there is nothing better than a hand-written card to say 'I love you' or 'You make the best sunny side up eggs':) I'd go for the cranberryset. I just adore the understated beauty of those cards + they would go perfectly with my gift wrapping this year. Remember, gifts are great but what you write in the card means the world too:)

For a chance to win you should be a follower of exPress-o, please visit the Rabbit Foot Fern and tell us which card set is your favourite from the shop.As always the giveaway is open worldwide. The winner will be chosen at random on Wednesday morning. Good luck! xo

Oh boy, Christmas is exactly a week away so let's start this
Monday with 16 little gift ideas for those awesome friends who are always on the
go, flying the world and sending the coolest greetings cards from the most
magical places around. Those who have the craziest stories to tell during dinner
parties and if you could, you would embark on an adventure with them in a
heartbeat!

Here we go:1. The 36 Hours Europe ($39) book is a must for those who crave European adventure!

Brr...it's cold! Loves, what are you up to this December weekend? Balazs and I have a whole bunch of little bits and bobs planned for the weekend but most of them are Christmas related. The one thing I promised myself to do tomorrow is to visit the new little French bistro that just opened a few streets away from us. It looks cozy and merry - can't wait! How about you, loves? As always here are a few fun and warm links for your weekend:) Enjoy!

I love the super comfy vibe of this knit dress. You?...
This rolled omelette pan is just about to change my life for the better - giggle!...Adorable!...
My new favourite sweater! It has the most adorable lace detailing:)...
The sweetest bowls ever!...Those incense smokers are so sweet, aren't they?...This necklace is understatedly perfect, isn't it?...Snuggly and adorable:)...Because there is always a spot in your closet for a new snazzy bag. Love the colour!...I'm just in love with this poster...

Happy Friday, loves! What caught your eye this week? Any great finds or buys? xo

P.S: Also, shopping for last minute Christmas gifts this weekend? Here are a few cool things you might like:)

Fancy a little secret? Well that might sound strange since
most people get annoyed by last minute cancellations during the Holiday season; I on the other hand enjoy an occasional festive time cancellation. It can be anything from a work meeting being rescheduled
for later to a coffee date with a friend who can not make it that night. Well, a few years
ago I used to get really bothered by it as it felt like wasted time but now I
just see it as freed-up time for myself – like a little pre-Christmas gift. If
I get a call that something is rescheduled I simply use that
slot for a quick manicure or treat myself to an hour of swimming or even have a
quick nap. Something that during this busy time of the year I simply don’t have
much time for.

Loves, do you have any little Christmas season surviving tips? Do
tell. xo

It’s not quite the official winter yet but it surely feeling
like it. How is it in your part of the world? So since I’m already waking up to
crisp morning air, crave tons of hot beverages and wear double socks daily, I thought
today would be the perfect day to share my little winter list of all the little
things I want to enjoy during the next few months.

And of course, I’d
love to know what you are looking forward to during this red-nose-icy-fingers-crisp-air-hot-chocolate-type-of-season.

First up I'm dreaming about spotting a few of those rascals above while taking chilly walks somewhere out of the city. Have you ever seen them up close?
Sharing candle lit cozy dinners with friends...
...and treating them to clementines in red wine:)...
Then spending the rest of the night catching up on reading......hidden under chunky blankets...
Taking long strolls all bundled up....
Or enjoying the winter wonderland from the warmth of our flat...
...that smells like a mix of winter and Christmas...
Waking up to the smell of knothole eggs and cinnamon coffee...

And no winter would be complete without late night Seinfeld marathons:)...

Crikey, how cool is Amsterdam? Last year, due to
the freezing weather in Europe, huge parts of Amsterdam’s canal system were frozen solid. So the awesome residents took to the frozen canal to enjoy a day of ice-skating,
hockey and all out fun! Eek, some even skated all the way to work.

Today’s giveaway is from a stunning Ohio
based handmade jewelry shop, Crave Jewelry Design. Jaci, the artist loves
creating pieces that are fun, playful, subtle and full of charm.
She hopes that each of her designs will make the wearer feel gorgeous and
sassy. Isn't that sweet?

Today, Jaci is offering one lucky person a chance to win one of those
adorable petite beaded bracelets. You can choose the one you fancy the
most from those seven beauties. I would go with this one and give this one
to my mom for Christmas as it would match her eye colour to perfection. But this one is super beautiful too and it would make
any outfit pop.

For a chance to win you should be a follower of exPress-o, please visit the Crave Jewelry Design and tell us which piece is your favourite from the shop or which beaded bracelet you fancy the most.As always the giveaway is open worldwide. The winner will be chosen at random on Sunday night. Good luck! xo